Tripod for shades



May 2, 1933. N. F. MATE-ION TRIPOD FOR SHADES Filed Dec. 1930 j? ZfWOT y ZWW 4 m,

Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES NAPOLEON FREDERICK MATHON, MANTLE LAMP COMPANY OF OF ILLINOIS FATE OFFICE TRIPOD FOR SHADES Application filed December 4, 1930. Serial No. 500,036.

The invention relates to tripods such as may, for instance, be used for supporting lamp shades and similar objects, and the invention consists of a tripod embodying parts of such character that they may be assembled by the unskilled user Without the aid of tools or solder, thereby V skilled assemblers and enabling the manufacturer to ship the tripod in a compact knock-down condition.

I11 the embodiment of the invention herein revealed, are included a supporting ring and a suitable number of similar arms (preferably three) which are interlocked at their inner ends with said ring in such a manner that separation therefrom cannot take place when the tripod is in use.

The invention will best be understood if reference be had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a tripod embodying the invention; 7

Figure 2 is a view of said tripod looking at it from the under side, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, 1 is a metal ring that is provided with a groove 2 on its under side whose resilient outer and inner walls 3, a are inclined toward each other so as to produce a continuous and restricted mouth 5.

The outer wall 3 of said ring 1 is provided with preferably equi-distant openings 6 through which extend the shade-supporting arms 7 one of which is shown of full size, the others being shown as broken off at their ex tremities.

Each of these arms 7 is made of wire of such size as to readily pass through any of the openings 6, and is curved at its inner end 8 to conform to the curvature of the groove 2 of said ring 1, said inner end 8 being of the same size as said groove 2 and of less width than the restricted mouth 5 of said groove. Thus, while the inner end 8 of an arm 7 may be sprung into said groove 2, the resiliency of the walls 3, 4 will retain it there until it is intentionally sprung out again as it will be when the tripod is knocked down for shipment.

eliminating the work of 3 4 In assembling the parts of the device, an arm 7 is inserted through one of the openings 6 and turned until its curved end 8 lies below and coincides with the groove 2, Whereupon it is forced into said groove wherein it is held by the resilient and converging walls It will be observed that when the device is in use, the restricted mouth 5 is on the under side thereof, and that, consequently, the weight of the shade which is supported at the outer ends of the arms 7 causes the inner ends 8 of said arms to press firmly against the upper wall of the groove 2 to prevent the disengagement of said arms, even though no solder or other means is used to hold them in fixed relation to the ring 1.

The points at which the shade-supporting arms 7 engage the openings 6 of the ring, constitute fulcra for said arms, so that the weight of a shade resting on the outer ends of said arms will cause the inner ends 8 thereof to press upward against the top. of said groove 2, the open mouth of which is below said inner ends 8. If the groove 2 of said ring were at the top thereof, the leverage of the arms would tend to separate their inner ends 8 from the groove 2.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

1. A shade support, including'a grooved basal ring having convergent and resilient walls and openings in the outer of said Walls, and separable and independent shade-supporting arms extending through said openings and into said grooved basal ring and there overlapped by said resilient walls.

2. A shade support, including a basal ring having dependent resilient walls and a top forming a circumferential groove, and separable and independent shade-supporting arms extending through perforations in said ring into the said groove and overlapped by said resilient walls.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

NAPOLEON FREDERICK MATHON. 

